Yesterday, May 4, 2026, HHS issued a Dear
Colleague Letter addressing the role of psychiatric medications and
non-pharmacological treatments in supporting individuals with mental health
conditions. The Dear Colleague Letter notes that medications “can play an
important and, at times, essential role in treatment,” while also emphasizing
the importance of offering non-medication approaches as part of a comprehensive
care plan. Evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions may include, when
clinically appropriate, psychotherapy, social connection, behavioral approaches,
sleep-focused treatments, physical activity interventions, and dietary and
nutrition-related strategies. It further states that “HHS encourages
states, tribes, territories, health systems, payers, clinicians, and
community-based providers to review current policies, workflows, training, and
referral pathways to ensure that evidence-based non-pharmacological options are
available and that medication management practices reflect shared
decision-making, informed consent, and appropriate clinical review.”
Health centers should note that Dear Colleague Letters are advisory in nature and do not establish binding legal or regulatory requirements. Health centers may wish to consult with counsel when evaluating whether and how to incorporate this guidance into existing clinical policies and workflows.
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